SAM HOUSTON STATE FOOTBALL FCS OPENING ROUND PLAYOFF NOTES SAM HOUSTON BEARKATS Location ...................................................Huntsville, Texas Sam Houston (8-4) vs. Southeastern Louisiana (9-3) Enrollment ................................................................. 19,719 FCS National Playoffs Opening Round Stadium ..................................................... Elliott T. Bowers Capacity .........................................12,593 / RealGrassPro Saturday - November 29, 2014 - 1 p.m. Colors .........................................................Orange & White Huntsville, Texas - Elliott T. Bowers Stadium Head Coach ...................................................... K. C. Keeler Alma Mater ...............................................Delaware, 1981 BEARKATS BACK IN THE FCS PLAYOFFS Record ....................................................First year at SHSU 181-76-1 overall record Sam Houston, New Hampshire and North Dakota State stand as the only programs to earn in 21 seasons as head coach berths in FCS post-season play each of the past four seasons. The Bearkats reached the NCAA National Championship game in Frisco in both 2011 and 2012 (one of only eight universities to 2014 SAM HOUSTON SCHEDULE play in the finals in consecutive seasons) and made it to the second round last year. Aug. 23 at Eastern Washington L 35-56 ESPN With this year’s playoff appearance, Sam Houston becomes only the second team in Aug. 30 ALABAMA STATE W 51-20 Sept. 6 at LSU L 0-56 SEC-TV Southland Conference history to earn four consecutive FCS playoff berths. McNeese made five Sept. 13 COLORADO ST.-PUEBLO L 21-47 consecutive post-season appearances in 1991 through 1995 and four from 2000 to 2003. Sept. 27 at Lamar* W 42-10 The Bearkats and the Cowboys hold the league’s top two FCS playoff records. Sam Houston Oct. 11 McNEESE* W 38-22 SLC TV Oct. 18 at Northwestern St.* L 27-31 SLC TV stands 10-7 in post-season play while McNeese is 11-15. Oct. 25 ABILENE CHRISTIAN* W 38-21 Nov. 1 vs. Stephen F. Austin*^ W 42-28 SLC TV SAM HOUSTON FCS PLAYOFF RECORD Nov. 8 at Incarnate Word* W 40-19 Nov. 15 at Houston Baptist* W 76-0 This year marks Sam Houston’s eighth FCS post season appearance after berths in 1986, Nov. 22 CENTRAL ARKANSAS* W 38-31 SLC-TV 1991, 2001, 2004, 2011, 2012 and 2013. The Kats reached the National Championship Game in *Southland Conference ^NRG Stadium in Houston 2011 and 2012, the FCS semifinals in 2004, the quarterfinals in 2001, the second round in 2013 and lost in the opening round in 1986 and 1991. SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA LIONS BEARKATS & BISON ONLY FCS TEAMS TO HOST FOUR-YEARS IN A ROW Location ....................................................... Hammond, La Sam Houston State and North Dakota State stand as the only two FCS teams to host playoff Enrollment ................................................................. 15,403 games in each of the last four seasons. The Bearkats and the Bisons met in the NCAA National Stadium .............................................Strawberry Stadium Championship Game in Frisco in January of both 2012 and 2013. Capacity .........................................................................7,408 Colors ......................................................... Green and gold Head Coach ....................................................Ron Roberts AMAZING TURNAROUND IN 2014 Alma Mater ..............................Tennessee-Martin, 1990 After a 1-3 non-conference record that included a loss to then No. 2 ranked NCAA Division II Record .......................................................Won 48, Lost 16 program Colorado State-Pueblo, many wrote off the young 2014 Bearkat squad. But new Sam Houston head coach K. C. Keeler took advantage of back-to-back open dates, 2014 LIONS SCHEDULE labeling them “Get Better Weeks” and turned the season around. With a simplified defensive Aug. 30 JACKSONVILLE W 44-3 scheme, a more run-oriented offense and working to eliminate mental mistakes, the Bearkats Sept. 6 SOUTHERN UTAH W 41-14 Sept. 13 at Tulane L 20-35 ESPN3 rolled 7-1 through the Southland Conference (finishing with five straight wins) to earn the pro- Sept. 20 at Southeast Missouri L 23-24 gram it’s sixth league championship. Previous titles came in 1991, 2001, 2004, 2011 and 2012. Sept. 27 at Incarnate Word* W 63-7 Oct. 4 NORTHWESTERN ST.* W 30-22 SLC-TV Oct. 11 at Lamar* W 61-34 PLAYING CLEAN PAYS OFF Oct. 18 CENTRAL ARKANSAS* W 41-24 From day one of practice, head coach K. C. Keeler has preached to his team about “playing Oct. 25 at Stephen F. Austin* L 17-27 SLC-TV Nov. 8 HOUSTON BAPTIST* W 76-7 clean” (without mental miscues and penalties) as the key to success. During Sam Houston’s Nov. 15 McNEESE STATE* W 28-9 SLC-TV 1-3 non-conference games, the Kats led the league in penalties with 38 including 16 in the Nov. 20 at Nicholls* W 62-3 loss at Eastern Washington. In Sam Houston’s last four games (all victories), the Kats have been *Southland Conference flagged 12 times. Sam Houston vs. Southeastern La. MATCH-UP FEATURES SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE CO-CHAMPIONS SHSU Won 10, Lost 6 Sam Houston and Southeastern Louisiana tied for the 2014 Southland Conference title, both Year Result SH Foe Year Result SH Foe with 7-1 league records. The two did not play each other during the regular season. 1940 A W 22 12 2007 A W 20 16 1977 H L 0 20 2008 H L ot 27 30 The Lions defeated the Bearkats in the FCS second round in Hammond, La., last year. South- 1978 A L 0 12 2009 A L 21 37 eastern Louisiana marched 85 yards in 45 seconds for the winning touchdown with 36 seconds 1984 H W 28 3 2010 H W 57 7 remaining. Sam Houston gave up an early 21-7 first quarter lead and trailed 24-21 at halftime. 1985 A W 24 13 2011 A W 38 9 The Kats, however, shut down Southeastern in the second half and led by as many as 14 points. 2004 A W 45 17 2012 H W 70 0 Lion QB Bryan Bennett’s one-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Smiley was the game-winner. 2005 H W 35 18 2013 A L 21 34 2006 A W 28 23 A L 29 30 For more information please contact Paul Ridings, Jason Barfield, Kevin Rodriguez -- Sam Houston State University Sports Information Office (936) 294-1764, 294-3533 Fax (936) 294-3538 Press Box (936) 294-1838 Web site: www.gobearkats.com Emails: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] SAM HOUSTON FOOTBALL GAME NOTES 2 TWO VICTORIES THIS SEASON OVER FCS TOP 25 OPPONENTS Sam Houston has wins over two FCS Top 25 teams, defeating McNeese when the Cowboys Southland Conference were No. 4 on Oct. 11 and No. 23 Stephen F. Austin Nov. 1 at the 89th “Battle of the Piney Team Conference Season Sam Houston.............................................7-1 8-4 Woods” at NRG Stadium, the home of the NFL Houston Texans. Southeastern Louisiana.........................7-1 9-3 Lamar ...........................................................5-3 8-4 THE BEARKAT OFFENSE Stephen F. Austin .....................................5-3 8-4 Sam Houston ranks 4th in the Southland and 16th nationally with 474.0 yards total offense Central Arkansas ......................................5-3 6-6 McNeese State ..........................................4-4 6-5 per game. The Bearkats lead the Southland and are 6th nationally in rushing (268.0) and stand Abilene Christian .....................................4-4 6-6 4th in the league and 14th nationally in scoring offense (37.3). The SHSU offense led the South- Northwestern State ................................4-4 6-6 land and stands 7th nationally in red zone offense (0.911). Incarnate Word .........................................2-6 2-9 During the team’s 7-1 run to the league title, Sam Houston averaged 320.9 yards rushing. Houston Baptist .......................................1-7 2-9 The Bearkats out-gained their Southland foes 503.0 total yards and 367.6 and out-scored Nicholls........................................................0-8 0-12 league foes 341 points to 162. Southland Schedule RUNING BACK KESHAWN HILL SHSU’S OFFENSIVE SENIOR LEADER Saturday, November 29 For a senior running back who has started only 11 games in his four years, Keshawn Hill has FCS Opening Round Playoff Games Southeastern La. at Sam Houston ..................... 1 p.m. amassed an amazing number of career marks in the Sam Houston football record book. Stephen F. Austin at Northern Iowa .................. 7 p.m. Hill’s SHSU career rankings include No. 2 in touchdowns (40), No. 3 in rushing TDs (34), No 4 in all-time rushing (2,397) and scoring (240 points) and No. 5 in all-purpose yards (3,721). Looking at Bearkat season records, this year Hill stands No. 2 in single season TDs (20) and No. 3 in points (120) and rushing touchdowns (18). TV / RADIO/ INTERNET Nationally, Hill stands 5th in points per game (10.9) and 6th in both rushing yards per carry All eight opening round FCS playoff games will (6.63) and rushing TDs (18). He is 2nd in the Southland in scoring and rushing touchdowns and be telecast Saturday on ESPN3. third in rushing yards per game (90.8). Forrest Conoly will be the play-by-play voice and Twice this year, Hill has posted career bests. First, he gained 198 yards on 17 carries with Drew Fellios will handle color for the telecast of the TD runs of 74, 66 and 3 yards at Northwestern State. Then, in the regular season finale against Bearkats versus Lions game. Since the 2011 season, Sam Houston football Central Arkansas, he carried 32 times for 244 yards and a pair of scores (the seventh best single games have been televised 35 times regionally game performance in 99 years of Bearkat football). and/or nationally. The Bearkats are 22-13 in those In the victory over SFA, Hill rushed 14 times for 154 yards. He became only the fourth SHSU telecasts. running back to score four TDs in a game.